10 Habits of Successful People (Done Before 9 a.m.)

Is there anyone who doesn’t want to be successful? I imagine that everyone does on some level, and that’s precisely why it’s so important to study the habits of successful people.

I don’t say this to boast, but I consider myself a successful person. I do quite well financially, but that has nothing to do with it. I don’t measure my success in terms of money.

For me, it all comes down to being able to do what I love on my own terms, and it has to truly help other people and create value in the world. It’s what makes me happy and makes my life meaningful.

How do you define success? Have you ever asked yourself this question before?

If you haven’t, try filling in the blank of the question below:

I know I’m being successful when _______________.

For some, the answer may be a million dollars. For others, it might be a healthy family. It could be anything at all.

Whatever it is, there are certain daily rituals that will help you achieve it, and you need look no further than the lives of successful, high performers around the world. I’ve studied the daily habits of successful people, and I’ve found common trends which I’ve incorporated into my own schedule. It’s been absolutely life changing.

Let’s take a look, shall we?

The Top Ten Daily Habits of Successful People (Early Morning)

1. Wake Up Early and Give Thanks

Not everyone’s a morning person, but you’ll find that a lot of really successful people are.

Mind you, I’m not talking about 8 a.m. here. For example, I wake up at 5 a.m. every morning as this allows me to whip through my to-do list with no distractions.

Before I get to that seemingly-neverending list however, there’s an important exercise I never skip: I take time to recognize the things I’m grateful for.

For me, that involves sitting down with my journal and writing them all out. Even if I’ve been having a tough time, there’s always something to be appreciative for.

If you’re not someone who likes to journal, you can do it while you take a brisk walk around the block, or even as you drink your early morning cup of tea.

They key is to spend some time in deep appreciation.

I’m not saying this just to make you feel better about things that aren’t going your way. I’m saying this because it actually works, as it aligns you with the true fulfillment of your loftiest goals.

This is easily the most important item on this list. It’s been a game-changer for me.

2. Meditate

Centering yourself for the day ahead is so important. There’s no telling what life will throw at you in any given moment, that’s why it’s important to find the stillness to confront whatever comes at you.

Mind you, this doesn’t have to mean sitting cross-legged and chanting a mantra. I actually meditate in a chair.

What you’re aiming for is some time to quiet your thoughts and ease yourself into a peaceful state. I like to call it becoming the eye of the storm.

I don’t know what I’d do without my meditation time. I have three little kids, so those quiet moments of stillness really get me ready for my day. I’m no zen master, but I’m getting there.

3. Cleanse and Hydrate

This one is pretty straightforward. Drink your water.

Your bodily health is so dependent on drinking adequate water, and it makes sense when you think about it. After all, our bodies are 70% water.

If it gets boring to you, try mixing your glass of water with a little freshly-squeezed lemon juice or some apple cider vinegar. They’ll help alkalize your body, cleanse your liver and gallbladder, and get your digestive system going.

4. Alkalize

To ensure I’m on track to stay alkaline, I have a big glass of water every morning that’s mixed with my Energy Greens.

Trust me, it’s much better than juicing at 5 in the morning!

I start with my lemon water, and then I’ll move on to a big mason jar of greens. It’s a high-powered dose of alkalinity that really powers me up.

5. Move!

Once you’ve practiced stillness and hydrated, it’s time to get your pistons firing.

I do this through a simple five-minute yoga routine each morning. Although I love going to the gym, I’ve never been able to get into the habit of going first thing in the morning. That’s quite fine, as the most important thing is to just get your limbs gently moving.

I’ll follow this by taking my dogs for a walk after I walk my son to school. By the time I get back home, I’m loose and limber.

If you do a survey of the most popular habits of successful people, you’ll find that regular exercise is one of them. I’m certainly a big advocate of that, but at the very least, you just have to make sure you get on your feet and move around everyday.

6. Do Your Most Important Task First

Now it’s time to get down to business. Rather than delaying the big goal of your big day, crush it right away.

Oh, and don’t pick up your cell phone!

You don’t want any distractions right now, so avoid Facebook and Twitter and all that stuff as well. Get right to it.

I wrote my first New York Times best-selling book this way, and that was proof enough for me that this approach is a surefire way to really focus in on the things you want to accomplish.

Think about this: If you just spend one hour in the morning working every day before things really get busy, how much could you accomplish in a month? What about a year?

That’s 360 hours right there. What could you do with that precious time?

Only you can know that, but I promise you this: it will transform your life.

7. Protein, Protein, Protein

Throw out those boxes of cereal and don’t reach for that bagel. The power-up food you need each morning is protein.

One of the most important habits of successful people is that they eat foods that support their hard work. They don’t eat food that makes them sluggish. Each meal is a blast of energy, and that’s what protein will do for you first thing in the morning.

There is so much research showing that protein in the morning is probably one of the most important things you can do to lose weight and curb cravings. It also gives you the energy you need for the day ahead.

I’ll normally have a protein shake made with our Pure Plant Protein. I’ll just add it to a glass of water and that’s 20 grams of protein right there.

8. Visualization

You can tie this into your meditation if you’d like. However you do it, you should take a moment to visualize what you want your day to look like.

Imagine it as if it were a movie; you’re essentially scripting the hours to come.

Walk yourself step by step exactly through everything you’re going to do, all you’re going to accomplish, and how it’s going to feel once it’s all done.

You’re essentially designing your life bit by bit this way. This is one of the most important daily habits of successful people because it’s how they map out the unique path to a life only they could create.

What’s your’s going to be?

9. Read

It doesn’t matter if you weren’t a book worm in school. Spend some time reading to pump your brain up and get it moving along the lines you want it to be moving in.

Reading is how I learn about the world and learn about myself. Whether I’m reading books about how to be a better person or, for example, about the daily habits of successful people, I’m feeding myself crucial information that puts me on a track of constant and consistent improvement.

We have a core value in our company: Grow or die.

If you’re not growing and learning new things and contributing to our company, you’re gone. It’s that simple. It may sound harsh but it really isn’t, as the opposite of this is stagnancy.

You always want to be growing. Just as you’d properly feed and exercise your body, it’s absolutely essential to properly feed and exercise your brain, so read.

10. Oil Pulling

I know what you’re thinking:“What the heck does that have to do with anything?”

Well, successful people, I think, should have nice teeth and a nice smile. You want to light up the world, don’t you?

Every night when you’re asleep, all kinds of bacteria finds its way into your mouth. Brushing your teeth in the morning helps take care of that, but oil pulling takes it to the next level.

You do this by taking a scoop of coconut oil and swishing it around in your mouth for about ten minutes or more. When you do this, the oil starts to pull all the bacteria out from your gums and teeth, little crevices you can’t reach with your brush or even floss.

The side effect of this is that it gradually whitens your teeth naturally with no side effects. That’s pretty awesome.

I don’t devote 10 minutes solely to oil pulling; I do it while I work. It doesn’t intrude on my routine whatsoever.

I hope you put these 10 daily habits of successful people to use, and I especially hope you make it a point to do them all before 9 a.m. each morning.

The best part of this is that by the time my children come home from school in the afternoon, I’m completely free to play with them. I’m not shuffling in tired from the office, unable to give them any attention; I’m completely present and energetic enough to be a fun dad.